Last October Ali Larijani, formerly Iran’s top nuclear negotiator, lost his position as secretary of the Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) following differences with president Mahmoud Ahmadi-Nejad. However, Mr Larijani remains on the council helping to devise security strategies as one of two representatives of supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. He is also planning to run in Iran’s upcoming parliamentary elections from the holy city of Qom, a move that could further strengthen his role in domestic politics.

The following is an edited transcript of an interview with Mr. Larijani, in Farsi, at his Tehran office on February 17, 2008.